Supply voltage control based at least in part on power state of integrated circuit

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a switching voltage regulator circuitry controlled to supply a voltage to at least a portion of an integrated circuit (IC). Information corresponding to a current load for a different power state of at least a portion of the IC is received. The switching voltage regulator circuitry is controlled to adjust the voltage to a different value based at least in part on the received information. Disclosed is a voltage received for a power state of at least a portion of an IC having first logic to perform one or more functions and second logic integrated with the first logic. Information corresponding to a current load for a different power state of at least a portion of the IC is sent from the second logic to voltage regulator control logic to adjust the voltage to a different value.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent application is a Continuation of pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/299,331, filed on Nov. 17, 2011, entitled“SUPPLY VOLTAGE CONTROL BASED AT LEAST IN PART ON POWER STATE OFINTEGRATED CIRCUIT,” and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,482,269 on Jul. 9,2013, and which is a Divisional of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/967,845, filed on Dec. 31, 2007, entitled“SUPPLY VOLTAGE CONTROL BASED AT LEAST IN PART ON POWER STATE OFINTEGRATED CIRCUIT,” and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,063,618 on Nov. 22,2011. Each earlier application is incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein generally relate to power delivery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in thefigures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicatesimilar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates, for one embodiment, a block diagram of a systemhaving voltage regulator control logic to control supply voltage for atleast a portion of an integrated circuit based at least in part on apower state of the integrated circuit;

FIG. 2 illustrates, for one embodiment, a die having an integratedcircuit and a die having at least voltage regulator control logic tocontrol supply voltage for at least a portion of the integrated circuitbased at least in part on a power state of the integrated circuit;

FIG. 3 illustrates, for one embodiment, a graph showing example voltageand load current transitions for at least a portion of an integratedcircuit;

FIG. 4 illustrates, for one embodiment, a flow diagram to control supplyvoltage for at least a portion of an integrated circuit based at leastin part on a power state of the integrated circuit;

FIG. 5 illustrates, for one embodiment, a block diagram of voltageregulator control logic and switching voltage regulator circuitry;

FIG. 6 illustrates, for one embodiment, a flow diagram to control supplyvoltage for at least a portion of an integrated circuit based at leastin part on a power state of the integrated circuit; and

FIG. 7 illustrates, for one embodiment, a block diagram of an examplesystem comprising a processor and a voltage regulator to control supplyvoltage for at least a portion of the processor based at least in parton a power state of the processor.

The figures of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth example embodiments ofapparatuses, methods, and systems relating to supply voltage controlbased at least in part on power state of an integrated circuit.Features, such as structure(s), function(s), and/or characteristic(s)for example, are described with reference to one embodiment as a matterof convenience; various embodiments may be implemented with any suitableone or more described features.

FIG. 1 illustrates, for one embodiment, a system 100 comprising anintegrated circuit 110, a voltage regulator (VR) 120, and one or morepower supplies 130. One or more power supplies 130 may be coupled tosupply power to VR 120, and VR 120 may be coupled to supply power to atleast a portion of integrated circuit 110. VR 120 may be coupled tosupply one or more regulated voltages to at least a portion ofintegrated circuit 110.

Power supply(ies) 130 may be implemented in any suitable manner. Powersupply(ies) 130 for one embodiment may include one or more suitableenergy cells, such as a battery or fuel cell for example. Powersupply(ies) 130 for one embodiment may include an alternating current todirect current (AC-DC) converter. Power supply(ies) 130 for oneembodiment may optionally include one or more voltage regulators toregulate supply of power to VR 120.

VR 120 for one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, may comprisevoltage regulator (VR) control logic 122 coupled to receive informationcorresponding to a current load for a different power state of at leasta portion of integrated circuit 110 to adjust one or more voltagessupplied to at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 to a differentvalue based at least in part on the received information. By receivinginformation corresponding to a current load for at least a portion ofintegrated circuit 110, VR control logic 122 for one embodiment maycontrol VR 120 to help supply power with improved efficiency andtherefore help reduce power consumption. VR control logic 122 for oneembodiment may control VR 120 to help supply power with improvedefficiency as compared, for example, to merely adjusting a voltagesupplied to at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 to a valueidentified by a received voltage identification (VID) code which doesnot identify a current load for at least a portion of integrated circuit110.

VR 120 for one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, may compriseswitching voltage regulator (VR) circuitry 124 coupled to receive powerfrom one or more power supplies 130 to supply one or more voltages to atleast a portion of integrated circuit 110. VR control logic 122 for oneembodiment may be coupled to control switching VR circuitry 124 toadjust one or more voltages supplied to at least a portion of integratedcircuit 110 to a different value based at least in part on the receivedinformation.

VR control logic 122 may be coupled to receive information correspondingto a current load for a different power state of at least a portion ofintegrated circuit 110 from any suitable source.

Integrated circuit 110 for one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, mayhave power control logic 112 coupled to send such information to VRcontrol logic 122. Power control logic 112 for one embodiment mayidentify whether a portion or all of integrated circuit 110 is about toenter, is entering, and/or has entered a different power state and maysend to VR control logic 122 any suitable information relating to suchentry to a different power state. Power control logic 112 may beimplemented using any suitable logic, including any suitable hardware,firmware, and/or software. Power control logic 112 for one embodiment,as illustrated in FIG. 1, may be integrated on integrated circuit 110.Power control logic 112 for another embodiment may be external yetcoupled to integrated circuit 110.

For one embodiment, system 100 may also comprise system power controllogic 140 coupled to control one or more power supplies 130 and/or oneor more voltage regulators, including VR 120, to supply power tomultiple components including integrated circuit 110. System powercontrol logic 140 for one embodiment may be coupled to power controllogic 112 for integrated circuit 110 to identify whether a portion orall of integrated circuit 110 is about to enter, is entering, and/or hasentered a different power state and may send to VR control logic 122 anysuitable information relating to such entry to a different power state.System power control logic 140 for one embodiment may be coupled toplace a portion or all of integrated circuit 110 in a different powerstate and may send to VR control logic 122 any suitable informationrelating to such placement in a different power state. System powercontrol logic 140 may be implemented using any suitable logic, includingany suitable hardware, firmware, and/or software.

System power control logic 140 for one embodiment may be coupled tocontrol supply of power to multiple components supported by a board.System power control logic 140 for one embodiment may comprise aBaseboard Management Controller (BMC).

For one embodiment where at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 isto reside in a different power state for at least a predetermined amountof time, VR control logic 122 for one embodiment may be adapted toreceive, for example from integrated circuit 110 or system power controllogic 140, information corresponding to that amount of time. VR controllogic 122 for one embodiment may then adjust one or more voltagessupplied to at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 to a differentvalue for a duration based at least in part on the received informationcorresponding to that amount of time.

After expiration of such a duration, VR control logic 122 for oneembodiment may again adjust one or more voltages supplied to at least aportion of integrated circuit 110. VR control logic 122 for oneembodiment may return one or more voltages to a prior value, such as ajust prior value for example. VR control logic 122 for one embodimentmay automatically adjust one or more voltages supplied to at least aportion of integrated circuit 110 to a predetermined value in responseto expiration of such a duration. VR control logic 122 for oneembodiment may automatically adjust one or more voltages to help reduceor avoid performance impact by resume latency.

VR control logic 122 for one embodiment may be adapted to receive acommand having information corresponding to a current load for adifferent power state of at least a portion of integrated circuit 110.The command may instruct VR control logic 122 to adjust one or morevoltages supplied to at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 to adifferent value based at least in part on the received information.

VR control logic 122 for one embodiment may be adapted to receiveinformation that identifies a different power state of at least aportion of integrated circuit 110. VR control logic 122 for oneembodiment may identify a current load based at least in part on theidentified power state to adjust one or more voltages supplied to atleast a portion of integrated circuit 110 to a different value based atleast in part on the identified current load.

Integrated Voltage Regulator

VR control logic 122 and at least a portion of switching VR circuitry124 for one embodiment may be integrated on the same die. Such a die forone embodiment may be separate from yet coupled in any suitable mannerto a die having integrated circuit 110.

FIG. 2 illustrates, for one embodiment, a voltage regulator (VR) die 220and a load die 210 positioned side-by-side in a substantially coplanarmanner. VR die 220 for one embodiment may have VR control logic 122 andat least a portion of switching VR circuitry 124, and load die 210 forone embodiment may have integrated circuit 110. VR die 220 may becoupled to load die 210 in any suitable manner. VR die 220 and load die210 for one embodiment may be packaged together in the same package inany suitable manner to form a multichip module (MCM). VR die 220 andload die 210 for one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, may besupported by a common package substrate 252 and encapsulated in anencapsulant 254 of any suitable material.

VR die 220 and load die 210 for another embodiment may be positioned ina stacked manner and packaged together in the same package.

Co-locating VR die 220 with load die 210 in the same package for oneembodiment may help allow VR die 220 and/or load die 210 to manage powerdelivery to load die 210 in a relatively efficient manner.

VR die 220 for one embodiment may have all of switching VR circuitry124. For another embodiment, a portion of switching VR circuitry 124 mayoptionally reside in the same package yet external to VR die 220 andload die 210. Such a portion for one embodiment may include, for exampleand without limitation, one or more capacitors, one or more inductors,and/or one or more power transistors. Such a portion for one embodimentmay be supported by package substrate 252.

Voltage Adjustment Based at Least in Part on Power State

VR control logic 122 may adjust one or more voltages supplied to atleast a portion of integrated circuit 110 to a different value in anysuitable manner based at least in part on received informationcorresponding to a current load for a different power state of at leasta portion of integrated circuit 110.

VR control logic 122 for one embodiment may adjust a loadline based atleast in part on such received information to at least help adjust avoltage supplied to at least a portion of integrated circuit 110. Theloadline corresponds to an output impedance of VR 120 and specifiesdroop voltage for currents between a minimum and maximum load. VRcontrol logic 122 for one embodiment may reduce output impedance of VR120 to help save power. VR control logic 122 for one embodiment mayreduce output impedance of VR 120 when VR control logic 122 receivesinformation that at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 is to bein one of one or more particular power states for at least some amountof time.

VR control logic 122 for one embodiment may apply or adjust a voltageoffset based at least in part on such received information to at leasthelp adjust a voltage supplied to at least a portion of integratedcircuit 110. VR control logic 122 for one embodiment may identify avoltage offset value based at least in part on such receivedinformation.

VR control logic 122 for one embodiment may reduce a voltage supplied toat least a portion of integrated circuit 110 to below a voltage orvoltage range corresponding to the different power state based at leastin part on received information. VR control logic 122 for one embodimentmay associate a voltage or voltage range with the different power statefor a given load. VR control logic 122 for one embodiment may reduce thevoltage supplied to at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 tobelow that associated voltage or voltage range to help save power. VRcontrol logic 122 for one embodiment may reduce the voltage supplied toat least a portion of integrated circuit 110 to below that associatedvoltage or voltage range when VR control logic 122 receives informationthat at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 is to transition tothe different power state which is a lower power state.

VR control logic 122 for one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, mayadjust one or more input voltages for VR 120 from one or more powersupplies 130 based at least in part on received information to at leasthelp adjust one or more voltages supplied to at least a portion ofintegrated circuit 110. VR control logic 122 for one embodiment mayadjust one or more input voltages for switching VR circuitry 124. VRcontrol logic 122 for one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, may becoupled to control one or more voltage regulators of power supply(ies)130 to adjust one or more input voltages for VR 120.

FIG. 3 illustrates, for one embodiment, a graph 300 showing examplevoltage and load current transitions for at least a portion ofintegrated circuit 110.

Location 301 on graph 300 corresponds to a voltage and load current forat least a portion of integrated circuit 110 when in a first powerstate. VR control logic 122 for one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG.3, may help control supply of the voltage to at least a portion ofintegrated circuit 110 in accordance with a loadline 311 having avoltage tolerance band 321 in which VR control logic 122 helps maintainthe voltage to help supply sufficient power over temperature and processranges. VR control logic 122 for one embodiment may receive, for examplefrom integrated circuit 110 or system power control logic 140,information corresponding to a voltage identification (VID) to helpcontrol supply of the voltage in accordance with loadline 311.

Location 302 on graph 300 corresponds to a voltage and load current forat least a portion of integrated circuit 110 when in a different, secondpower state. VR control logic 122 for one embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 3, may help control supply of the voltage to at least a portion ofintegrated circuit 110 in accordance with a different, second loadline312 having a voltage tolerance band 322 in which VR control logic 122helps maintain the voltage to help supply sufficient power overtemperature and process ranges. VR control logic 122 for one embodimentmay receive, for example from integrated circuit 110 or system powercontrol logic 140, information corresponding to a voltage identification(VID) to help control supply of the voltage in accordance with loadline312.

VR control logic 122 may receive, for example from integrated circuit110 or system power control logic 140, information corresponding to acurrent load for the second power state when at least a portion ofintegrated circuit 110 is about to transition or does transition fromthe first power state to the second power state.

Location 303 on graph 300 corresponds to a voltage and load current forat least a portion of integrated circuit 110 following adjustment of thevoltage supplied to at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 basedat least in part on the received information corresponding to a currentload for the second power state. Location 303 for one embodiment, asillustrated in FIG. 3, corresponds to a reduced voltage supplied to atleast a portion of integrated circuit 110 relative to the voltagecorresponding to location 302.

For one embodiment where VR control logic 122 may receive informationcorresponding to a voltage identification (VID), VR control logic 122for one embodiment may receive information corresponding to a currentload for a different power state separate from any informationcorresponding to a VID. VR control logic 122 for one embodiment mayreceive a single command having information corresponding to a VID andhaving separate information corresponding to a current load for adifferent power state. Referring to the example of FIG. 3 when at leasta portion of integrated circuit 110 is about to transition or doestransition from the first power state to the second power state, VRcontrol logic 122 may receive a command having information correspondingto a new VID to transition from location 301 to location 302 and havingseparate information corresponding to a current load for the secondpower state to transition from location 302 to location 303. VR controllogic 122 for another embodiment may receive a command havinginformation corresponding to a current load for a different power stateseparate from any command having information corresponding to a VID.

VR control logic 122 for one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, mayadjust loadline 312 to a loadline 313 based at least in part on thereceived information corresponding to a current load for the secondpower state to at least help adjust the voltage supplied to at least aportion of integrated circuit 110 to the voltage corresponding tolocation 303. VR control logic 122 for one embodiment may apply oradjust a voltage offset based at least in part on the receivedinformation corresponding to a current load for the second power stateto at least help adjust the voltage supplied to at least a portion ofintegrated circuit 110 to the voltage corresponding to location 303. VRcontrol logic 122 for one embodiment may adjust an input voltage for VR120 from one or more power supplies 130 based at least in part on thereceived information based at least in part on the received informationcorresponding to a current load for the second power state to at leasthelp adjust the voltage supplied to at least a portion of integratedcircuit 110 to the voltage corresponding to location 303.

For one embodiment where at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 isto reside in the second power state for at least a predetermined amountof time, VR control logic 122 for one embodiment may be adapted toreceive, for example from integrated circuit 110 or system power controllogic 140, information corresponding to that amount of time. VR controllogic 122 for one embodiment may then adjust the voltage supplied to atleast a portion of integrated circuit 110 to the voltage correspondingto location 303 for a duration based at least in part on the receivedinformation corresponding to that amount of time.

After expiration of that duration, VR control logic 122 for oneembodiment may then return the voltage supplied to at least a portion ofintegrated circuit 110 to a voltage corresponding to the first powerstate, such as the voltage corresponding to location 301 for example. VRcontrol logic 122 for one embodiment may alternatively return thevoltage supplied to at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 to avoltage corresponding to the second power state, such as the voltagecorresponding to location 302 for example. VR control logic 122 for oneembodiment may automatically return to the voltage corresponding to thefirst or second power state in response to expiration of that duration.

Load Integrated Circuit

As illustrated in FIG. 1, integrated circuit 110 for one embodiment mayhave any suitable logic 114, including any suitable hardware, firmware,and/or software, to perform any suitable one or more functions. Logic114 for one embodiment may include one or more cores to performinstructions. Logic 114 for one embodiment may be integrated with powercontrol logic 112 in integrated circuit 110.

Power control logic 112 for one embodiment may identify whether aportion or all of integrated circuit 110 is about to enter, is entering,and/or has entered a different power state. Power control logic 112 forone embodiment may monitor any suitable one or more conditions toidentify whether a portion or all of integrated circuit 110 is about toenter, is entering, and/or has entered a different power state. Powercontrol logic 112 for one embodiment may monitor any suitable one ormore conditions in any suitable manner and may place a portion or all ofintegrated circuit 110 in a different power state in any suitable mannerbased at least in part on one or more monitored conditions.

For one embodiment where integrated circuit 110 may have logic 114 thatincludes one or more cores to perform instructions, at least a portionof integrated circuit 110 may be placed in an operation mode or statethat corresponds to a power state. Example operation modes may include,without limitation, a normal or operating mode, an idle mode, adeep-idle mode, a standby mode, a sleep mode, a deep-sleep mode, and/ora non-powered mode.

At least a portion of integrated circuit 110 for one embodiment may beplaced in a power state for a predetermined amount of time. As oneexample, without limitation, power control logic 112 for one embodimentmay statistically predict a traffic pattern of a workload for logic 114and may then identify an amount of time at least a portion of logic 114should be in a particular power state based at least in part on thetraffic pattern. Power control logic 112 for one embodiment may sendinformation corresponding to the amount of time to VR control logic 122in any suitable manner.

FIG. 4 illustrates, for one embodiment, a flow diagram 400 for oneembodiment where power control logic 112 may be used to help control VR120. For block 410 of FIG. 4, integrated circuit 110 may receive avoltage for a power state of at least a portion of integrated circuit110. For block 420, power control logic 112 may send to VR control logic122 information corresponding to a current load for a different powerstate of at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 to adjust thevoltage to a different value. For one embodiment where at least aportion of integrated circuit 110 is to reside in the different powerstate for at least an amount of time, power control logic 112 for oneembodiment for block 410 may send to VR control logic 122 informationcorresponding to the amount of time to receive the voltage at thedifferent value for a duration based at least in part on the sentinformation corresponding to the amount of time.

VR Control Logic and Switching VR Circuitry

VR control logic 122 may be implemented using any suitable logic,including any suitable hardware, firmware, and/or software. VR controllogic 122 for one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, may have anysuitable logic to implement at least an interface 562 and a controlprocessing logic 564.

Interface 562 for one embodiment may be coupled to receive, for examplefrom integrated circuit 110 or system power control logic 140, one ormore commands to control one or more voltages supplied to at least aportion of integrated circuit 110. Control processing logic 564 may becoupled to receive a command from interface 562 and decode and performthe received command.

Control processing logic 564 for one embodiment may decode and perform acommand having information corresponding to a current load for adifferent power state of at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 toadjust one or more voltages supplied to at least a portion of integratedcircuit 110 to a different value based at least in part on suchinformation. Such information for one embodiment may identify thedifferent power state of at least a portion of integrated circuit 110,and control processing logic 564 for one embodiment may reference alookup table (LUT) 566 based at least in part on the identified powerstate to identify a corresponding current load for the different powerstate. Control processing logic 564 for one embodiment may adjust one ormore voltages supplied to at least a portion of integrated circuit 110to a different value based at least in part on the identified currentload. VR control logic 122 may have any suitable logic to implement LUT566 to store a current load for different power states.

Control processing logic 564 for one embodiment may decode and perform acommand having information corresponding to a voltage identification(VID) to adjust one or more voltages supplied to at least a portion ofintegrated circuit 110 based at least in part on such information.Control processing logic 564 for one embodiment may decode and perform acommand having both information corresponding to a VID and informationcorresponding to a current load for a different power state of at leasta portion of integrated circuit 110.

Interface 562 for one embodiment may be coupled to receive, for examplefrom integrated circuit 110 or system power control logic 140,information corresponding to a VID over one or more separate, dedicatedlines for control processing logic 564 to adjust one or more voltagessupplied to at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 based at leastin part on such information.

VR control logic 122 may be coupled to control switching VR circuitry124 in any suitable manner to control one or more voltages supplied toat least a portion of integrated circuit 110. For one embodiment,control processing logic 564 may be coupled to control switching VRcircuitry 124 through a control interface for one or more voltagedomains, such as voltage domain control interfaces 572 and 576 forexample, to control a corresponding voltage supplied to at least aportion of integrated circuit 110. VR control logic 122 may have anysuitable logic to implement one or more voltage domain controlinterfaces.

Switching VR circuitry 124 may be implemented using any suitablecircuitry. Switching VR circuitry 124 for one embodiment may have anysuitable circuitry to implement one or more switching VR cells coupledto receive power from one or more power supplies 130 to supply one ormore voltages to at least a portion of integrated circuit 110. Aswitching VR cell for one embodiment may correspond to a stand-alonevoltage regulator having its own power train and control loop. One ormore switching VR cells for one embodiment may be coupled to supplyvoltage for a corresponding voltage domain. As one example, asillustrated in FIG. 5, switching VR cells 581, 582, 583, and 584 may becoupled to supply a voltage 591.

Control processing logic 564 may be coupled to control supply of avoltage for one or more corresponding voltage domains through one ormore corresponding control interfaces in any suitable manner. Controlprocessing logic 564 for one embodiment may be coupled to transmit anysuitable information to a control interface for a voltage domain tocontrol a corresponding voltage supplied to at least a portion ofintegrated circuit 110. Control processing logic 564 for one embodimentmay help control supply of a voltage for a corresponding voltage domainby transmitting to a corresponding control interface any suitablecontrol information based at least in part on, for example and withoutlimitation, a VID, a current load, a voltage offset, and/or a loadline.Control processing logic 564 for one embodiment may also be coupled toreceive any suitable information from a control interface for a voltagedomain to help monitor and control supply of a corresponding voltage. Avoltage domain control interface for one embodiment may have one or moreregisters to store any suitable control and/or status information tohelp monitor and/or control supply of a corresponding voltage.

For one embodiment where switching VR circuitry 124 has multipleswitching VR cells for a voltage domain, control processing logic 564for one embodiment may control such switching VR cells individuallythrough a corresponding voltage domain control interface. Controlprocessing logic 564 for one embodiment may control such switching VRcells collectively through control of a corresponding voltage domaincontrol interface. Control processing logic 564 for one embodiment maycontrol such switching VR cells in some ways individually and in someways collectively. As one example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, controlprocessing logic 564 for one embodiment may control VR cells 581, 582,583, and 584 individually and/or collectively using voltage domaincontrol interface 572 to control voltage 591. For one embodiment, one ormore switching VR cells for a voltage domain may be selectively enabledand disabled to help adjust a voltage supplied for that domain.

VR control logic 122 for one embodiment may have any suitable logic toimplement separate cell control interfaces for individual control ofswitching VR cells. VR control logic 122 may have such cell controlinterfaces in addition to or in lieu one or more voltage domain controlinterfaces.

Control processing logic 564 for one embodiment may be coupled tocontrol one or more input voltages for switching VR circuitry 124 fromone or more power supplies 130 to help control one or more voltagessupplied to at least a portion of integrated circuit 110. As illustratedin FIG. 5, control processing logic 564 for one embodiment may becoupled to control one or more voltage regulators of power supply(ies)130.

FIG. 6 illustrates, for one embodiment, a flow diagram 600 for oneembodiment of VR control logic 122. For block 610 of FIG. 6, VR controllogic 122 may control switching VR circuitry 124 to supply a voltage toat least a portion of integrated circuit 110. For block 620, VR controllogic 122 may receive information corresponding to a current load for adifferent power state of at least a portion of integrated circuit 110.For block 630, VR control logic 122 may control switching VR circuitry124 to adjust the voltage to a different value based at least in part onthe received information. For one embodiment where at least a portion ofintegrated circuit 110 is to reside in the different power state for atleast an amount of time, VR control logic 122 for one embodiment mayreceive for block 620 information corresponding to the amount of timeand may control for block 630 switching VR circuitry 124 to supply thevoltage at the different value for a duration based at least in part onthe received information corresponding to the amount of time.

As one example with reference to FIG. 5, VR control logic 122 for oneembodiment may receive at interface 562 a command having informationidentifying a different power state of at least a portion of integratedcircuit 110 and having information corresponding to an amount of time inwhich at least a portion of integrated circuit 110 is to reside in thedifferent power state. Control processing logic 564 for one embodimentmay decode the command and perform the command by at least referencingLUT 566 to identify a corresponding current load for the different powerstate, optionally saving any suitable information corresponding to aresume power state, identifying a duration based at least in part on thereceived information corresponding to the amount of time, initiating atimer, and adjusting one or more voltages supplied to at least a portionof integrated circuit 110 to a different value based at least in part onthe identified current load. Control processing logic 564 may adjust oneor more voltages by using a corresponding voltage domain controlinterface and/or by adjusting one or more input voltages for switchingVR circuitry 124 from one or more power supplies 130. In response toexpiration of the identified duration, control processing logic 564 mayautomatically adjust one or more voltages supplied to at least a portionof integrated circuit 110 for a resume power state.

For one embodiment where VR control logic 122 may control multiplevoltages supplied to at least a portion of integrated circuit 110, VRcontrol logic 122 for one embodiment may control only one or more butless than all such voltages in response to a received command and/orreceived information. VR control logic 122 for one embodiment may thensupport having different power states for different portions ofintegrated circuit 110 at the same time. VR control logic 122 for oneembodiment may identify one or more voltages to be adjusted in anysuitable manner. VR control logic 122 for one embodiment may identifyone or more voltages to be adjusted, for example, based at least in parton a received command and/or received information identifying a powerstate applicable to only a portion of integrated circuit 110. VR controllogic 122 for one embodiment may be adapted to receive a command havinginformation corresponding to a portion of integrated circuit 110 toidentify one or more voltages to be adjusted. VR control logic 122 forone embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, may use control processinglogic 564 to identify one or voltage domains for which a correspondingvoltage is to be controlled in response to a received command and/orreceived information.

Example System

VR control logic 122 may be used for supply voltage control for anysuitable one or more integrated circuits in any suitable environment.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example system 700 including power supply(ies) 130and VR 120 to supply one or more voltages to a processor 710 having oneor more integrated circuits. Processor 710 for one embodiment mayinclude power control logic 112 and one or more cores 714 to performinstructions. For one embodiment, one or more of core(s) 714 may beintegrated with power control logic 112. For one embodiment, at least aportion of VR 120 may be integrated on a single die and packaged withprocessor 710.

System 700 for one embodiment may also include a chipset 720 coupled toprocessor 710, a basic input/output system (BIOS) memory 730 coupled tochipset 720, volatile memory 740 coupled to chipset 720, non-volatilememory and/or storage device(s) 750 coupled to chipset 720, one or moreinput devices 760 coupled to chipset 720, a display 770 coupled tochipset 720, one or more communications interfaces 780 coupled tochipset 720, and/or one or more other input/output (I/O) devices 790coupled to chipset 720.

Chipset 720 for one embodiment may include any suitable interfacecontrollers to provide for any suitable communications link to processor710 and/or to any suitable device or component in communication withchipset 720.

Chipset 720 for one embodiment may include a firmware controller toprovide an interface to BIOS memory 730. BIOS memory 730 may be used tostore any suitable system and/or video BIOS software for system 700.BIOS memory 730 may include any suitable non-volatile memory, such as asuitable flash memory for example. BIOS memory 730 for one embodimentmay alternatively be included in chipset 720.

Chipset 720 for one embodiment may include one or more memorycontrollers to provide an interface to volatile memory 740. Volatilememory 740 may be used to load and store data and/or instructions, forexample, for system 700. Volatile memory 740 may include any suitablevolatile memory, such as suitable dynamic random access memory (DRAM)for example.

Chipset 720 for one embodiment may include a graphics controller toprovide an interface to display 770. Display 770 may include anysuitable display, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) for example. The graphics controller for one embodimentmay alternatively be external to chipset 720.

Chipset 720 for one embodiment may include one or more input/output(I/O) controllers to provide an interface to non-volatile memory and/orstorage device(s) 750, input device(s) 760, communications interface(s)780, and/or I/O devices 790.

Non-volatile memory and/or storage device(s) 750 may be used to storedata and/or instructions, for example. Non-volatile memory and/orstorage device(s) 750 may include any suitable non-volatile memory, suchas flash memory for example, and/or may include any suitablenon-volatile storage device(s), such as one or more hard disk drives(HDDs), one or more compact disc (CD) drives, and/or one or more digitalversatile disc (DVD) drives for example.

Input device(s) 760 may include any suitable input device(s), such as akeyboard, a mouse, and/or any other suitable cursor control device.

Communications interface(s) 780 may provide an interface for system 700to communicate over one or more networks and/or with any other suitabledevice. Communications interface(s) 780 may include any suitablehardware and/or firmware. Communications interface(s) 780 for oneembodiment may include, for example, a network adapter, a wirelessnetwork adapter, a telephone modem, and/or a wireless modem. Forwireless communications, communications interface(s) 780 for oneembodiment may use one or more antennas 782.

I/O device(s) 790 may include any suitable I/O device(s) such as, forexample, an audio device to help convert sound into correspondingdigital signals and/or to help convert digital signals intocorresponding sound, a camera, a camcorder, a printer, and/or a scanner.

Although described as residing in chipset 720, one or more controllersof chipset 720 may reside with processor 710, allowing processor 710 tocommunicate with one or more devices or components directly. One or morecontrollers of chipset 720 for one embodiment may be integrated on asingle die with at least a portion of processor 710. One or morecontrollers of chipset 720 for one embodiment may be packaged withprocessor 710. As one example, one or more memory controllers for oneembodiment may reside with processor 710, allowing processor 710 tocommunicate with volatile memory 740 directly.

In the foregoing description, example embodiments have been described.Various modifications and changes may be made to such embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the appended claims. The descriptionand drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

1.-19. (canceled)
 20. A system comprising: a memory; a functional unitcoupled to the memory, the functional unit including: a first logic toperform one or more functions; and a second logic coupled with the firstlogic, the second logic to send to a voltage regulator control logicfirst information corresponding to a current load for a different powerstate to adjust a level of voltage to a different value; a wirelessinterface for allowing the system to communicate with another device;and a display for displaying content processed by the functional unit.21. The system of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the functionalunit is to reside in the different power state for at least an amount oftime, and wherein the second logic is to send to the voltage regulatorcontrol logic second information corresponding to the amount of time tohave the voltage supplied at the different value for a duration based atleast in part on received information corresponding to the amount oftime.
 22. The system of claim 20, wherein the first logic includes oneor more cores to perform instructions.
 23. The system of claim 20,wherein the first information corresponds to voltage identification(VID).
 24. The system of claim 20, wherein the second logic to send, tothe voltage regulator control logic, third information corresponding toa current load for a different power state of at least a portion of thefunctional unit to adjust a voltage supplied to a different value,wherein the first information is different from the third information.25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first and third information areprovided as a single command or separate commands.
 26. The system ofclaim 20, wherein the different power states include at least one of:normal mode, idle mode, deep-idle mode, standby mode, sleep mode,deep-sleep mode, or non-powered mode.
 27. The system of claim 20,wherein the second logic to identify whether a portion or all of thefunctional unit is about to enter, is entering, or has entered adifferent power state.
 28. The system of claim 20, wherein the secondlogic to statistically predict a pattern of workload of the first logicto identify an amount of time the first logic to remain in a particularpower state.
 29. A system comprising: a memory; a functional unitcoupled to the memory, the functional unit including: a control logic tocontrol switching voltage regulator circuitry to supply a voltage; andat least a portion of the switching voltage regulator circuitry, thecontrol logic to: receive first information corresponding to a voltageidentification and to control the switching voltage regulator circuitryto adjust the voltage based at least in part on the received firstinformation, and receive second information corresponding to a currentload for a different power state and to control the switching voltageregulator circuitry to adjust the voltage based at least in part on thereceived second information, wherein the second information is separatefrom the first information; and an interface for allowing the functionalunit to communicate with another device.
 30. The system of claim 29,wherein at least a portion of the functional unit is to reside in thedifferent power state for at least an amount of time, and wherein thecontrol logic is to receive information corresponding to an amount oftime.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the control logic is to adjustthe voltage for a duration based at least in part on the receivedinformation corresponding to the amount of time.
 32. The system of claim29, wherein the control logic is to adjust a loadline based at least inpart on the received second information.
 33. The system of claim 29,wherein the control logic is to adjust an input voltage for theswitching voltage regulator circuitry based at least in part on thereceived second information.
 34. The system of claim 29, wherein thecontrol logic is to reduce the voltage below a voltage corresponding tothe different power state based at least in part on the received secondinformation.
 35. The system of claim 29, wherein the second informationis to identify the different power state, and wherein the control logicis to identify the current load based at least in part on the identifiedpower state.
 36. The system of claim 29, wherein the control logic is toreceive a command having the first information and/or the secondinformation.
 37. The system of claim 29 further comprises a powercontrol unit, wherein the control logic is to receive the secondinformation from the power control logic.
 38. The apparatus of claim 29,wherein the memory is a non-volatile memory
 39. The system of claim 29further comprises one or more energy cells.